The Matrix

Post authored by Mahja D. Zeon, an Associate in Honigman's Detroit office and Lauren Legner, a 2021 Summer Associate in the firm's Detroit office.

Employers have a right, and in some industries, even a requirement, to implement vaccine-related policies to promote workplace safety, but they must be mindful of the privacy implications.  There are several competing concerns to weigh when deciding whether to implement vaccine-related policies. On the one hand, data regarding employee vaccination status may play an essential role in keeping the workplace safe from COVID-19 outbreaks. On the other hand, collecting and using such data implicates individual privacy and data security concerns. Should an employer choose to collect vaccine-related data, it must take the appropriate steps to keep this information safe. Here are three ways employers can implement vaccine-related, data-safe policies: